Everything you need to know about visting Sydney, Australia

Sydney is one of Australias largest cities not to be mistaken for the capital, thats Canberra. Sydney is a beautiful city for people who love culture, beaches, cities, shopping and great food. Its a place to go and really relax as it offers great attractions, great weather and a great holiday.

Sydney Beaches

Discover the abundant sandy choices, from world-famous Bondi Beach to a tranquil oasis inside the majestic Sydney Harbour. At the beaches, there are plenty of things to see and do including boating, swimming, surfing and exhilarating walks along sandstone headlands for spectacular views.

At Bondi, one of Sydney’s most popular beaches, you’ll find locals and tourists alike walking, jogging and swimming. Many visit the beaches just to soak up the lively vibe and enjoy the beachside dining options and vibrant night-life, or watch a glorious sunrise over the splendid Pacific Ocean.

Manly is another favourite destination. The Manly ferry from Circular Quay makes for a magnificent ride across one of the world’s greatest natural harbours. Enjoy a fun trip to Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary, where you can even dive with sharks. Hire a bike in Manly and tour the coastline, from Shelly Beach at the southern end of Manly Beach to Freshwater Beach found around the northern headland.

For some more tranquil beach options, head to Clovelly and Coogee. Coogee connects to Bondi with a beautiful six-kilometre coastal walk. Grab a coffee or hot chocolate at a café on either as you take in the stunning views.

In Mosman, on the northern side of Sydney Harbour, you’ll find picturesque Balmoral Beach. At Dee Why, stay connected with free Wi-Fi and surf from a beachside café. Farther north is Palm Beach, the setting for many scenes from iconic Australian TV show Home and Away.

The beaches also offer plenty of water sport activities. Learn to surf at one of the accredited surf schools at popular beaches. Snorkelling in the harbour or around rock platforms in the ocean is popular, too. At popular beaches you can hire kayaks, surfboards, beach chairs and umbrellas.

Shopping in Sydney

Sydney attracts major international fashion brands to its grand 19th century arcades, elegant pedestrian malls and modern shopping centres. The beautifully restored Queen Victoria Building in the city centre is an arcade full of splendid boutiques. Outdoor markets are brimming with stalls, from fresh produce to the next big fashion name.

In the bustling city centre, the grand Queen Victoria Building has three levels devoted to fashion, jewellery and gifts.

The Tea Room QVB serves high tea daily in the gorgeous Grand Ballroom. Nearby is the Pitt Street Mall, a pedestrian mall with boutiques, global brands, department stores David Jones and Myer, the elegant Strand Arcade and Westfield Sydney, a multi-level modern shopping centre with more than 250 fashion, food and lifestyle stores.

Towering above Westfield is the Sydney Tower Eye, which offers breathtaking views of the city and beyond. You’ll find personal stylists in David Jones and Myer. For a tailored shopping tour with your own personal stylist, Chic in the City offers tours of designer boutiques in the city centre and fashionable neighbourhoods.

You’ll find flagship stores for international designer brands – Armani Exchange, Burberry, Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Versace and more – around Martin Place and on Castlereagh, Elizabeth, George and King streets.

Central in Broadway, near Central Railway Station, is a shopping precinct that is easy to spot by the vertical gardens that cover its facade. Described as The Living Mall, it features a sun-drenched emporium.

Food and Wine

Treat yourself to a mouth-watering taste of Sydney’s best food and wine, served in stunning locations around the city. An ever-growing list of gourmet restaurants, boutique cafes and bars means you’ll never be short of inspiration on where to eat and drink in Sydney. If you enjoy stylish venues with excellent food, wine and service, make sure you visit some of Sydney’s hatted restaurants including Quay, Rockpool Bar & Grill and Sepia.

Star chef Matt Moran’s Chiswick in Woollahra inhabits a picturesque green space including a 150-square-metre vegetable garden. The menu embraces a simple approach with a range of dishes, from seafood to Matt Moran’s famous lamb.

The city centre is another magnet for eclectic new tastes. Restaurant Hubert inhabits a jazz-infused basement space with intriguing features including a wine balcony and a small theatre. Nomad’s Nathan Sasi brings Spanish and Moorish influences to his Mercado, in the same building as Indu’s village-style southern Indian fare.

Also in the city you can enjoy some superb cocktail bars. Sample delicious cocktail and food at the award-winning prohibition-themed Palmer & Co. The Darlo Country Club gives nearby Darlinghurst an inner city cocktail oasis inspired by grand old Californian country clubs, and opulent cocktail bar Della Hyde adds more glamour to Oxford Street’s mix.

The Wilmot showcases modern, Asian-themed expressions of European and Australian classics from exec chef Ryan Hong. At Barangaroo, recent openings include Gin&It, a bar from The Barber Shop’s team boasting Australia’s largest gin collection, nestled beside cult food outlet Belle’s Chicken.

Chatswood is Sydney’s north-side Asian eating hub with temptations to rival Chinatown. The District dining precinct boasts 13 international outlets, including Australia’s first Tim Ho Wan dim sum house as well as the first north-of-the harbour outpost for dessert king Adriano Zumbo.

Hawker Lane, a bustling bazaar of Asian flavours, has transformed the lower level of Westfield Chatswood into a major foodie destination. In Chippendale, Spice Alley’s Kopi-Tiam delivers another aromatic powerhouse of hawker-style diners.

On the beautiful Northern Beaches, The Newport is a wonderful venue overlooking Pittwater and set in idyllic gardens, outdoor dining spaces and bars. Enjoy incredible views and food experiences as well as extensive wine, beer and cocktail lists.